Brian Scott Gamroth: 1965 – 2016

Brian Scott Gamroth

May 28, 1965 - September 18, 2016

A public celebration of life service for the voice of Wyoming, Brian Scott Gamroth, 51, will be held at 3 p.m., Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, at the Casper Events Center. Closed casket visitation takes place from 4 to 7 p.m., on Thursday, Sept. 22, at Bustard's Funeral Home.

Brian died Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in a motorcycle accident as he was returning home from a Shriner's event in Canada.

He was born May 28, 1965, in Seaside, Oregon, the son of Lydia and Patrick Gamroth.

The family moved to Wyoming in the early 1970's, first to a ranch outside of Medicine Bow and then to one outside of Saratoga.

In 1973, the Gamroths moved to Casper, where Brian attended Southridge and Fairdale elementary schools, East Junior High and Kelly Walsh High School. At KW, he played trombone in the band, was involved in theater, and was a self-described "total nerd." He drove a VW bug from the backseat to accommodate his long, lean frame.

After graduating from high school in 1983, he studied engineering at Casper College for one year while working part-time at KTRS radio station. He also worked arranging flowers at Nate's Flowers and selling boots at Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters during that time.

He worked in radio for a short time in Cody, where he met Jock Blaney, who would become a friend for life. The two symbolized the term "bromance," meaning strong male friendship, before the term was a thing.

Returning to Casper, he again worked in radio, and met the love of his life, Tracy the bartender, at LBM in early 1985. Very shortly thereafter, he met Tracy's son, Josh, then 7, and the three became an inseparable trio.

Brian and Tracy were married March 19, 1988, at the Holiday Inn (now Ramada Plaza Riverside), which was managed by another lifelong friend, Pat Sweeney.

The young family moved to Chicago and then Denver as Brian worked for record labels promoting acts such as Guns 'n' Roses and Aerosmith, among others. Riding tour buses and other stories of celebrity mayhem in those days would become common subject matter in Brian's next -- and final -- career move, waking up Wyoming as morning radio host.

The family, now including sons Kyle and Corey in addition to Josh, moved back to Casper in the early 1990's, and has been a vital part of Casper ever since.

Shortly after returning to Casper, Brian switched radio stations and found a permanent home with K2 Radio and a true mentor in Bob Price.

For 23 years, he hosted the K2 Morning Show, sharing his love for his family and Wyoming with listeners in a large portion of central Wyoming. He was deeply interested in many things and enjoyed conversing with people ranging from elected officials to small business owners and ranchers.

His interests were vast and, in addition to his family, included hunting, riding his motorcycle, golfing, cooking, reading and politics. Especially after taking an abandoned third story office on Second Street and renovating it into a fabulous loft residence, he loved entertaining groups large and small, and was a great host.

He had a deep connection to veterans, especially from the Vietnam era, and worked hard to raise money for them, as well as for countless other nonprofits throughout the state. His emcee and fundraising talents truly made a difference to communities and nonprofit groups of all sizes, and his charisma could not be matched. It would be difficult to estimate the total amount of dollars that Brian helped raise for organizations and various causes throughout Wyoming on account of the thousands of events he ended up hosting and emceeing over the years. However, it would not to be a longshot to state that millions of dollars were raised in his presence. Brian had an uncanny ability to get people to open their checkbooks to donate back to their community and those close to him hope that this level of giving will continue in his honor.

Most of all, it was his family he loved. Rarely was he at a nonprofit event without the company of several family members, and his wife Tracy could always be found at his side. The boys spent their childhoods growing up at chili cook-offs, Bubbles Baubles 'n Beans, the Million Dollar Hole in One, and numerous other fundraisers where their father volunteered his time. They always enjoyed seeing their dad interact with members of the community, though they never inherited his ability to remember all the names and faces of the people they met.

He was a great father, an awesome grandpa, an incredible husband, and "one hell of a brother".

He was everyone's rock, the person we all turned to for advice or in times of uncertainty. He was an extraordinarily reasonable, well-rounded Wyomingite. His ability to disagree with people yet still remain respectful was greatly admired and is a trait that is far too rare these days.

Brian was an active member of the county and state Republican Party organizations. He was passionate about his beliefs and determined in his search to create positive, lasting changes in the state. In this pursuit, he never wavered. Brian's interest was always in improving the quality of life of those around him and improving the conditions of the state that he called home.

He was instrumental in forming the Wyoming Lottery, and as one of its first permanent residents, took an enormous interest in downtown Casper. He was on the Downtown Development Authority board and was so looking forward to seeing David Street Station become reality.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Tracy; his three sons, Josh (Heidi), Kyle (Whitney) and Corey; four precious grandchildren, Lucy, Sarah, Reagan and Owen; his brother, Kevin (Erin); sister, Michelle (Steve Bartosh), and his father, Patrick Gamroth, all of Casper; father-in-law, Yogi Kliven (Janet) of California; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lydia Gamroth, and mother-in-law, Mary Gimble.

The family requests that memorials in Brian's name be made to improve the community in which the donor lives, or to Ronald McDonald House, 1300 E. 21st Ave., Denver, CO, 80205, where the family stayed following Reagan's premature birth. The family has also established the Brian Scott Memorial Family Fund at Hilltop National Bank, 300 Country Club Rd., Casper .

Because he gave so much to the community, the community is now giving back to the family in amazing ways, and we are so grateful.